the knitting buzz

i'm biased

Alchemy: Yarns of Transformation are truly something special. The yarn line speaks of pure passion. I beleive this is a directly related to owners, Austin and Gina.

The Alchemy assortment focuses on luxurious yarn blends with unique characteristics. Honestly, I think you would be hard pressed to find similar yarns elsewhere. The intense colorations are beautiful and down right stunning, I can't imagine trying to limit myself to just one. And that's where Gina comes in...... her insightful and extraordinary designs combine different textures and colors to creating a simplicity focus of the the yarn resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind piece. Like the Waterfall Wrap/Scarf or the New Magician Scarf, shown below. 

 

Which brings me to Part 2 of why...... I am.... biased. 

I wanted needed a bright colored summer scarf.  And thanks to Billie, I had to have a scarf knit out of Pagoda.  Yes, I blame you and thank you.

So.... I am knitting the Bias Wrap/Scarf in Alchemy's Pagoda, color 175c Saigon Sunset, a 100% silk yarn with a nubby boucle-like texture.  The Wrap takes only 2 hanks of Pagoda, while the Scarf can be done with just one hank.

 

The pattern is quick and easy, but the yarn makes it stunning......of course!

I'm Biased Wrap/ Scarf Pattern is available for free. Directions for the scarf are in parenthesis ().

Finished Sizes: Wrap 15" x 72", Scarf 7.5" x 72"

Yarn: Alchemy Pagoda 2(1) hanks. 183 yarns 40 grams 100% silk

Needle: US#10 or 6.0mm

Cast on 51 (25) stitches using longtail cast on.

Row 1: knit

Row 2: k1, *yo, k2tog....repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 till you have enough yarn to bind off, ending on Row 1. Bind off loosely.

Another benefit of this yarn that it does not require any blocking. 

Easy peasy beautiful wrap/scarf.

exploring an eclectic mix of yarns

Lately it feels like I've run the gamut of testing & exploring knitting with different types of materials & various constructions of yarn.  Aside from the obvious fun of playing with yarn, I have managed to get myself off track. 

At the beginning of the year, I had promised my self to not knit multiples of the same design. And just as quickly, I broke that promise. I liked the patterns so much that I couldn't resist trying them some unique yarn choices.  Admittedly, I got a little distracted, 3 patterns, 7 yarn choices/projects.

I can explain:

It all started with Alchemy Haiku a mohair and silk blend that is beautifully hand-dyed, in a pattern I will call Tilde Lace (to be published soon). This yarn is go gorgeous and I love it. The airy-ness of the pattern and the coloration I chose seemed that it may be difficult to photograph.

 

So, I started a second Tilde Lace, but this time as a scarf, using some leftover Madelinetosh Lace from a previous project and that left me flat as well. Flat in terms of photography, that is. I really should have remembered this from knitting Carlisle, never thought it photographed very well. Looks much better in person.

Which brings me to a third Tilde, as an oversized wrap in  Miss Babbs Yet, a merino & tussah silk blend that is a little rustic in look but not feel, in a monochrome wine colorway. The pattern is definitely popping with this yarn (shown not blocked), but will take a little time to finish knitting, just because of its sheer size.

While working with the Alchemy Haiku, I needed a project that was a little less slippery that I could take On The Go.  Traliccio (to be published soon) was the answer, its a trellis looking scarf pattern where the yarn was an important part of the pattern.  I used a tightly spun, colorful hand-dye yarn that had almost a cord-y feel. I used a fingering weight from Absolute Fiber Matisse. I had previously tried working with this yarn for socks, but didn't care for the result.  It works great as the Traliccio scarf.

 

I had liked working with the cord-yness of the yarn that I thought I would try Traliccio out of a silvery colorway of Berroco Seduce, which is linen rayon blend.  I have been wanting a silvery colored scarf and it will look good with an outfit I'm taking on vacation...... so another distraction to some other projects.  C'est la vie!

After working on two, Traliccio scaves, both in a cord-y yarn, I got to thinking, I bet this would make a fun wrap in a lace weight, .....and ....I just so happen to have a beautiful green colorway of Yasmin Lace from Miss Babs.....this is truly my favorite lace weight yarn.....just saying.  So I have another project on the needles, but I am looking forward to finishing it......I need a little more green in my life!

Lastly, I experimented using Habu Textiles A-20 1/20 Silk Stainless Steel in a beautiful eggplant color with my Pebbly Mesh Lace design, in a scarf.  I actually started this project last year, but was motivated to finish it so I could wear it on vacation.  It works perfect with the Pebbly pattern because it requires no blocking. Love that!

 

Thanks for enduring my journey. Will post when tilde and Traliccio are published.

Until next time.....Happy Knitting!

 

lemon tree arrived

The arrival of the lemon tree was filled with some confusion...... only on my part. 

I was expecting a tree like the one above, full of lemons.

The box it arrived in was much smaller than what I was expecting or rather my delusion 

A 4 to 5 year old tree that was 3.5' to 4.5' ..... my vision was a tree that was that the height was from the ground up...... CORRECTION.......it includes the pot......which inturn reduces the height by a foot or so.

I imagined that I was going to have to get one of the maintenance men to help me get it to my unit on a dolly of some sort.  The fact was that the box had no trouble making it thru the door, in fact my daughter picked it along with some other packages. 

Imagine my surprise or shock.

I unboxed the tree and the air was filled with the smell of lemons.  There were no lemons on the tree...... actually my potted lemon tree ......was really more like a stick in a pot with a few leaves.  It was the Charlie Brown version of lemon trees.  But the few leaves that were on the tree were so fragrant that it reversed my initial disappointment.  Who could be upset with a lemon-y scent.  Its lovely.

 

Actually the whole ordeal was quite funny.  Can you just imagine the grower at the other end of the phone when I told him about my concern of getting it thru the door.  He must of hung up the phone in mad laughter.  I'm glad I could make his day! ;-) 

I will nurture my lemon tree and watch it grow with the hope of some lemons (in time), but until then I am enjoying the lemony fragrance. 

I can report that my lemon tree has sprouted its very first leaf under my care.

 

 Its actually growing, no leaves have dropped off, no leaves have turned yellow or brown and its still green...... SO EXCITED! THE FIRST NEW LEAF.  

More later......

lemons

Recently, I had the opportunity to read "The Lemon Book" by Mrs. Alexandra Vegant, available at Amazon. I had no idea of the extraordinary benefits this little fruit provides.  The book is chock full of information on its uses in health, beauty, recipes and even household tips. 

I have been preparing juice from one to three lemons with water and it makes a surprisingly refreshing drink.  I drink this most mornings and usually take one to work as well.  Lately I have been adding some cayenne pepper to my drink, and I know you are probably making a face right about now, but its really quite good.  If it gets to be a little much, I will add a tablespoon of real maple syrup. Stop with the faces.

I don't know if it actually is benefiting me or not, but I do believe it certainbly couldn't hurt. So I have been buying lemons by the bag full and giving my electric citrus juicer a workout. 

One thing I do know..... that the cutting board that I have been using to cut my lemons no longer has any stains, hmm.

OK! OK! OK! ......so I have been a little lemon crazy.....it gets worse...... I caught an episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and learned that Yolanda has her front yard full of ...you guessed it.... lemon trees.  And she picks them fresh every day and also makes a lemon drink.  We are like twins...... I wish......

Soooooo,

even though I live in Chicago, I yearned to have at least one lemon tree.  I found that lemon trees can be grown indoors as long as there is direct sunlight.  Ah ha! Direct sunlight is what I have!  So you guessed, I found a 4 - 5 year old, 3.5' to 4.5' tall tree.  Sounds perfect!

I had so many questions for the grower and I probably drove him crazy. I had concerns about repotting to a fancy container, pollinating, and sunlight, of which all my questions were answered.   

BUT one of my biggest concerns was.....will it fit thru my front door  I was worried that a 4 to 5 year old tree may be too big for the door.  The grower assured me that it would come wrapped as such that I would have no problem.

I can't wait, I will have my own lemon tree...... I can't express how truly excited I am. But I had to wait till conditions are not freezing for the tree to be shipped.

 

More on my very own lemon tree in the heart of Chicago coming soon.....